The School has been nationally accredited since 1958. In 1978, the School received the first unit accreditation awarded by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The School's latest accreditation report, in 2003, said the School "is recognized by academics and media professionals as perhaps the best program in the nation. Many believe it has the best balance of any journalism-mass communication school because it places appropriate emphasis on both scholarly productivity and professional excellence. Moreover, it combines the best in undergraduate and graduate education. Clearly, the School is focused on its mission of excellence."

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"What is the School's curricular philosophy?"
The curriculum provides a broad liberal arts education, an understanding of the responsibilities of a free press in a democratic society, and a fundamental knowledge of journalism and mass communication techniques and theories. The School's faculty members believe that journalists and other mass communicators must understand the political, social, cultural and economic forces that operate within society. Students take only about one-fourth of their courses in the School; the remainder are taken in foreign languages, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and other fields.

The School also recognizes the rapidly changing nature of mass communication and information technology. The School offers courses that help students learn to search for information, analyze it, store it and make it accessible electronically for others.

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"What kind of job will I be prepared for?"
A degree in journalism and mass communication is a strong liberal arts degree. In addition to many traditional media jobs (including but not limited to reporter, copy editor, broadcast journalist, advertising copywriter, public relations counselor, graphic designer, Internet provider or photojournalist), graduates of the School are successful in a wide variety of jobs and careers. Those include careers that call for a liberal arts background with strong skills in written and oral communication. The faculty acknowledges the truth of the statement by President Clinton in 1993 when he spoke at the 200th anniversary of UNC-CH: "The best jobs these young people may ever have may be jobs yet to be created, in companies yet to be founded, based on knowledge yet to be discovered."

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"What about getting a job?"
The School has a full-time career services director to help students get internships or jobs after they graduate. Representatives of employers from North Carolina and beyond come to the School frequently to interview students. One of the most important factors that will influence your chances for a job when you graduate will be the extent of your experience in the field. You can get that experience in a variety of ways. One, you can work on campus media, including The Daily Tar Heel, one of the best college newspapers in the United States. It has no affiliation with the School, but many staff members are JoMC majors. Two, you can intern at a newspaper, broadcast station, advertising agency, public relations firm or other organization, usually on a full-time basis during a summer. Three, you can take the School's practicum course, JOMC 55, which will give you three credit hours for supervised work during a semester.

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"Can I take courses in summer school?"
The School offers a wide variety of courses in both summer sessions. The first session runs from the middle of May until the end of June, and the second from early July until the first week in August. Because of low enrollments, the School is sometimes forced to cancel some summer school courses, so you may not be able to take courses you need in summer school.

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"How large are classes?"
Many courses in the School are skills courses in which you will learn and improve skills in writing, editing, photography and other areas. You will learn by practicing, and practicing a lot. You will also work closely with your teachers in those courses because enrollments will not be larger than 20. Other courses will introduce you to theories and concepts about mass communication, including law, history, ethics, advertising and public relations. Enrollment in those lecture-type courses will typically be in the range of 60 to 75 students.

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"Do graduate students teach courses?"
Graduate students teach in a few instances, and only when they have significant professional experience in the subjects they are teaching. Graduate students who teach courses work closely with full-time faculty members who teach the same subjects, and graduate-student teachers are observed and supervised by School administrators.

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"Will I have an adviser?"
Yes. When you enter the School, you will be assigned to a faculty adviser who teaches in your sequence. You may consult with that adviser to review your progress and plan your courses for upcoming semesters. Advisers and other faculty members also are available for discussions about career options.

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"How important are teaching and research?"
The School's 2003 accreditation report said this about teaching: "Teaching is so exceptionally delivered at the School that it should serve as a source of inspiration for even the best mass communication professors, programs and other schools. The commitment to making students' classroom experience a challenging, invigorating and intensely rewarding one is something this School excels at course after course, semester after semester and year after year."

The School prides itself on its commitment to excellence in teaching, and the more than 20 campuswide teaching awards won by faculty members attest to that commitment. We also recognize the importance of lifelong curiosity and learning for teachers, so the School places great importance on appropriate research, publication and creative activity. In addition to being excellent teachers, faculty members in the School are nationally and internationally recognized experts in a variety of endeavors. All faculty members have had professional experience in their fields.

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"Are scholarships available?"
We have an numerous undergraduate and graduate scholarships and awards for students in the School. Undergraduates can apply for scholarships in the spring semester before your junior and senior year. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and academic performance. Scholarship applications are due Feb. 1 each year, and selections are made in April for the following academic year. Winners receive one-half of the scholarship at the beginning of the fall semester and the remainder at the beginning of the spring semester.

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"What kind of facilities does the School have?"
The School moved into a completely refurbished Carroll Hall in July 1999 and has up-to-date facilities and equipment for study and practice in mass communication. Those facilities include seven networked computer classrooms with Internet connections, a digital imaging laboratory and broadcasting laboratories. The School's Park Library offers access to the latest electronic databases and is headed by a knowledgeable information specialist. 

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"Can I meet professionals?"
All the time. Journalists, advertising and public relations practitioners, broadcasters and photojournalists are among the many professionals who visit the School every year. They speak to classes and meet with groups of students.

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"What about student organizations?"
Students can join and be active in a variety of organizations, which offer local speakers, career contacts and national programs.

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"What about minority students and minority faculty?"
The School has had a strong minority presence in its full-time faculty for years and has a higher percentage of minority students than most UNC-CH academic units. It actively recruits minority students and encourages their participation in job fairs and other national programs.

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"How can I learn more about the school?"
You can write to ask for the Dean's Annual Report and other materials.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Campus Box #3365
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365

Many students and their parents visit the school to learn more about it. Joe Bob Hester, associate dean for undergraduate students, is usually available for such visits. Call him at the number above or send e-mail to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .